Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Chesterfield Inlet (Jan 23/02) - Keeping the St. Theresa guest home in Chesterfield Inlet should take another step closer to a done deal this week.

Representatives from the major players are meeting in Chester today, Jan. 23, to work out details for the transitional phase of the long-term care facility.

Attending the meeting are representatives from the Chesterfield Inlet Development Corp., Tapiriit Developments, long-time facility operator Bishop Reynald Rouleau on behalf of the diocese, the hamlet and the Department of Health and Social Services.

Joanne Bezzubetz, the executive director for the department in the Kivalliq Region, says the goal is to ensure the quality and level of care people have been accustomed to receiving from the diocese will continue through the transitional phase.

"When assistant deputy minister Dr. Keith Best and I met with the Chesterfield Development Corp. recently, we arrived at what we consider to be a worthwhile agreement," says Bezzubetz.

"We intend to pursue that agreement this week."

Bishop Rouleau says he is optimistic an operational agreement can be reached.

He says although he would still prefer to cease operating St. Theresa when the diocese's current contract expires on April 1, 2002, he will listen to any proposal concerning a transitional phase.

Once the operational aspect is completed, Rouleau says there are still negotiations to take place concerning the facility itself.

"We need to know, of course, will the developers buy the facility or will they lease it?" says Rouleau. "We need to ascertain what kind of agreement works best for all parties involved."

Rouleau says the new long-term care facility won't be ready until sometime in 2003, so developers will have to use the present facility for now.

"We're hoping the new corporation will buy it or some other organization from Chester, but it's not clear right now exactly who is interested and to what extent.

"However, it seems there is local interest in the building being maintained and transformed in some way and that is what we're hoping for."